J-A20004-17

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA

Appellee

v.

JEFFERY LLOYD ROHRBAUGH 

Appellant

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

:

 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF

 PENNSYLVANIA

No. 1683 MDA 2016

Appeal from the Order Entered September 19, 2016

In the Court of Common Pleas of York County 

Criminal Division at No(s): CP-67-CR-0000422-2015

BEFORE: GANTMAN, P.J., PANELLA, J., and FORD ELLIOTT, P.J.E.

MEMORANDUM BY GANTMAN, P.J.: FILED OCTOBER 13, 2017

Appellant, Jeffery Lloyd Rohrbaugh,1 appeals from the order entered in 

the York County Court of Common Pleas, which denied his pre-trial motion 

to dismiss pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 110. We affirm. 

In its opinion, the trial court fully and correctly sets forth the relevant 

facts and procedural history of this case. Therefore, we have no reason to 

restate them. 

Appellant raises the following issue for our review: 

WHETHER THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING

APPELLANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS WHEN IT FOUND THAT 

THE FORMER OFFENSE AND THE CURRENT OFFENSE WERE 

NOT BASED ON THE SAME CRIMINAL CONDUCT OR DID 

____________________________________________

1 Appellant’s first name is spelled variously throughout the certified record as 

both “Jeffery” and “Jeffrey.” 
J-A20004-17

- 2 -

NOT ARISE FROM THE SAME CRIMINAL EPISODE FOR THE 

PURPOSES OF DISMISSAL UNDER [18 PA.C.S.A § 110]? 

(Appellant’s Brief at 4). 

A claim regarding compulsory joinder pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 110, 

although interlocutory, is immediately appealable. Commonwealth v. 

Barber, 940 A.2d 369, 376 (Pa.Super. 2007), appeal denied, 599 Pa. 686, 

960 A.2d 835 (2008). This type of claim raises a question of law, thus, our 

scope of review is plenary and our standard of review is de novo. Id.; 

Commonwealth v. Vargas, 947 A.2d 777 (Pa.Super. 2008). 

Section 110 of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code provides, in relevant 

part: 

§ 110. When prosecution barred by former 

prosecution for different offense

Although a prosecution is for a violation of a different 

provision of the statutes than a former prosecution or is 

based on different facts, it is barred by such former 

prosecution under the following circumstances:

(1) The former prosecution resulted in an acquittal or 

in a conviction as defined in section 109 of this title 

(relating to when prosecution barred by former 

prosecution for the same offense) and the subsequent 

prosecution is for:

(i) any offense of which the defendant could 

have been convicted on the first prosecution;

(ii) any offense based on the same conduct or 

arising from the same criminal episode, if such 

offense was known to the appropriate prosecuting 

officer at the time of the commencement of the 

first trial and was within the same judicial district 

as the former prosecution unless the court 
J-A20004-17

- 3 -

ordered a separate trial of the charge of such 

offense; or

(iii) the same conduct, unless:

(A) the offense of which the defendant 

was formerly convicted or acquitted and the 

offense for which he is subsequently 

prosecuted each requires proof of a fact not 

required by the other and the law defining 

each of such offenses is intended to prevent 

a substantially different harm or evil; or

(B) the second offense was not 

consummated when the former trial began.

18 Pa.C.S.A. § 110. Section 110(1)(ii) contains four requirements that 

would preclude a subsequent prosecution based upon a prior prosecution:

(1) the former prosecution must have resulted in an acquittal or 

conviction;

(2) the current prosecution is based upon the same criminal 

conduct or arose from the same criminal episode as the former 

prosecution;

(3) the prosecutor was aware of the instant charges before the 

commencement of the trial on the former charges; and

(4) the current offense occurred within the same judicial district 

as the former prosecution. 

Commonwealth v. Fithian, 599 Pa. 180, 191, 961 A.2d 66, 72 (2008). 

“Each prong of this test must be met for compulsory joinder to apply.” Id.

The determination of a single criminal episode must not be approached 

in a rigid or hypertechnical manner. Commonwealth v. Miskovitch, 64 

A.3d 672 (Pa.Super. 2013), appeal denied, 621 Pa. 702, 78 A.3d 1090 

(2013). Rather: 
J-A20004-17

- 4 -

[W]e consider (1) the temporal relationship between the 

acts in question and (2) the logical relationship between 

the acts. In determining whether a number of offenses are 

“logically related” to one another, a court should inquire 

into whether there is a substantial duplication of factual 

and/or legal issues presented by the offenses; if there is 

substantial duplication, then the offenses are logically 

related and must be prosecuted at one trial. 

Id. at 686. 

After a thorough review of the record, the briefs of the parties, the 

applicable law, and the well-reasoned opinion of the Honorable Richard K. 

Renn, we conclude Appellant’s issue merits no relief. The trial court opinion 

comprehensively discusses and properly disposes of the question presented. 

(See Trial Court Opinion, filed February 14, 2017, at 2-5) (finding: offenses 

at issue were neither based on “same criminal conduct” nor arose from 

“same criminal episode”; Appellant committed offenses at different locations 

on different dates, and different witnesses would be required for prosecution 

of each offense; no logical relationship exists between facts of each incident; 

there was “clear break” between offenses; Appellant is sole common thread 

between two criminal incidents; Appellant’s acts do not constitute part of 

same criminal episode, therefore, Appellant’s issue is meritless). 

Accordingly, we affirm on the basis of the trial court opinion. 

Order affirmed.
J-A20004-17

- 5 -

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.

Prothonotary

Date: 10/13/2017
l 

1 18 Pa.C.S. §61ll(g)(4)(11). 

2 18 Pa.C.S. §4904(a)(1). 

Factual and Procedural History: 

In this case, the Appellant was charged with one count of Sale of Firearms', and one 

count of Unsworn Falsification to Authorities' for offenses committed on or about August 3, 

2014. H~ was charged with the same offenses, committed on a different date-August 9, 

2014. in case CP-67-CR-0005388-2015 (former case). On September 13, 2016, following a jury 

This matter is before the Court on the Appellant,Jeffery Rohrbaugh's motion to 

dismiss on grounds, generally, of double jeopardy, filed on September 14, 2016. We denied 

the motion on September 19, 2016. On October 11, 2016, the Appellant filed a timely notice of 

appeal to the Superior Court. We directed him to file his 1925(b) statement, which he did on 

November 3, 2016. Pursuant to Rule 1925(a) of Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure, 

the following is our opinion addressing the merits of Appellant's argument on appeal 

OPINION PRUSUANT TO RULE 1925( a) OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RULES OF 

APPELLATE PROCEDURE 

] effery L Rohrbaugh 

......, 

c:=, 

(;, ......... 

r -..l 

('Tj l'."e7; ......, 

:;:;C) 

~x: ~ 

0 c» 

~."\ .. .:::- 

•C-.1) 

("") :::::: :J:,io c·· . ., ~,j,.I 

c :n: :- 

;:.; ,-- a -l ... 

()'l CJ'I 

.v:I 

vs. 

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania CP-67-CR-00004 22 - 2015 

IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF YORK COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

CRIMINAL DIVISION 

Circulated 09/21/2017 09:26 AM
2 

offen~es should be considered a "single criminal episode." Our appellate courts have 

fashioned the following test to assist in making this determination: 

(1) the former prosecution resulted in an acquittal or conviction; (2) the 

current prosecution was based on the same criminal conduct or arose from 

the same criminal episode; (3) the prosecutor in the subsequent trial was 

; .... 

Discussion: · 

. · .. Same. Criminal. Conduct or Same Criminal Episode: 

· .:' TheAppellantargues that a dismissal of the instant case is warranted pursuant to 18 

Pa.C.S. §110. We disagree . 

. Instantly, we clearly have a situation that involves the question of whether the two 

•,, . . 

criminal conduct or did not arise from the same criminal episode for purposes of 

dismissal under 18 Pa.CS. §110. 

j •••• 

Issue(s:): 

·. ·. I. Whether the trial court erred in denying Appellant's Motion to Dismiss when it 

found that the former offense and the current offense were not based on the same 

\ •'II ·,' • 

trial in the former case, he was found not guilty of Sale of Firearms and guilty of Unsworn 

Falsification. (Motion to Dismiss, C:.V6.) 

· The charges in the instant case concern an incident at a Wal-Mart on August 3, 2014, 

whereas the charges in the former case concern an incident at a Dick's Sporting Goods on 

August 9, 2014. Id. at ':ll4. Because the Appellant was charged with the same offenses, he filed 

a motion to dismiss the instant case, claiming that pursuant to 18 Pa.CS. §110, the 

Commonwealth is barred from bringing the present action against him and that it should 

have tried the present charges with the former case. Id at ':ll8. 

We denied the Motion to Dismiss on September 19, 2016. On October 11, 2016, 

Appellant filed a timely notice of appeal to the Superior Court followed by a timely Statement of 

Errors Complained of on Appeal on November 3, 2016. 
. . ~ ·. ~ '. ;:_,. . 

3 

'I i.•, . 

. r~ . 

there, the defendant committed two robberies - one on July 31st and another on 

; : ··. 

August ~st. 64 A.3d at 675,76. The trial court noted that "[t]he only linking factor between 

. . . . . 

these crimes was that the car that Miskovitch stole on July 31, 2004 was used in the robbery 

·' • • 'r , :· • 

that he committed on August 1, 2004," thereby clearly stating that there was "no substantial 

duplic~don.oflegaf ot factual issues." Id. at 687. The Superior Court agreed with the trial 

,· . . . . \ . 

court's analysis. Id. Specifically, the Court noted that "the crimes occurred on different days 

Com. v. Pries, 861 A.2d 951, 954 (Pa.Super. Ct. 2004). 

· The only question here is whether or not the instant offenses that Appellant is 

charged with are based on the "same criminal conduct" or arise from the "same criminal 

episode" as the former case. For the reasons that follow, we do not believe the two offenses 

can be considered as one criminal episode. We understand the Appellant's argument that 

these two offenses occurred within a few days of one another and the only difference was a 

location, but a temporal relationship is just one factor to consider when determining 

whether a single criminal action has occurred. We must also consider the facts in a logical 

manner. See Com. V. Wittenburg, 710 A.2d 69, 73 (Pa.Super. Ct.1998). 

In Miskovitch, the Superior Court undertook a double jeopardy analysis but relied on 

18.Pa.C:.S; §110 as a tool to explain the "same criminal episode." The Court stated that 

[t]he determination of what constitutes a single criminal episode must not be 

approached in a rigid or hypertechnical manner that would defeat the purposes 

· · .·' -, · .underlying Section 110. Rather, when determining what constitutes a single criminal 

.. · .: , . _episode, y.;e consider (1) the temporal relationship between the acts in question and 

(2) thelogical relationship between the acts. In determining whether a number of 

· · . · ; offenses.are "logically related" to one another, a court should inquire into whether 

: _..,.· . thereis a substantial duplication of factual and/or legal issues presented by the 

· · offenses; if there is substantial duplication, then the offenses are logically related and 

. . .... must be prosecuted at one trial. 

,a~. v: Miskovitch,_64 A.3d 672, 686, reargument denied (Apr. 29, 2013), appeal denied, 621 Pa. 702, 

78 A.3d 1090{2013).- · ... 

i, ' . ·- ·. ,, . 

aware of the charges before the first trial; and ( 4) all charges were within the 

samejudicial district as the former prosecution. 
4 

; ,· · .. : 

end, the Court stated that even though the stabbings occurred just minutes apart, they were 

'. ,,.;•: ·.·,'c...,.·.:. I ;t I.,:,' , , " • 

to be "properly viewed as two separate episodes." Id. at 622. Additionally, even though the 

·,I ~ ,' , • r, )", ,: . ' ~ • ,.' :.. • 

stabbings were proximately close in time, the Court noted that there was a "clear break in 

•. . • , .' ~- : .. : . ;, .; I~ 

criminal activiry of the defendant" because after the first stabbing, he had a conversation 

~t·h··hi~ 

1girll;'.i°~;~J 

fo~ approximately twenty minutes before stabbing her as well. Id . 

. " ~ : '. . . . . ....... - . ./ :~ ~ · .. ~ 

. . · Here.the Appellant's acts are also similar to those of the defendant in Lee. The 

'·:· ••• 1 -. ;_: .;, · :.:.,;: ••• -v ". . 

A.,ppeμa~t ~i~.it commitred the offense by filling out false information on August 3, 2014 at a 

\.v;l,M~rt, i~(at/~tt~mpt to purchase a firearm. Thereafter, when his application was 

· '. .' ~ ~--: ', . : . : .. 

conduct'torconduct arising from "same criminal episode" under 18 Pa.CS. §110. Id. To that 

. . ,: , .. ; ·. . . 

and at cliffer~ht locations, and, not surprisingly, different witnesses were required for the 

p~os~cutfon· df the separate crimes." Id. Thus, there was no logical relationship between the 

two crimes, sci. the trial court's determination was affirmed. Id. 

. Here, the situation is not much different. The appellant first committed the offense 

on August 3, 2014, at a Wal-Mart and then again on August 9, 2014, at a Dick's Sporting 

Goods store. Just as the Court in Miskovitch noted, the offenses here were committed at 

different locations on different dates, and different witnesses would be required for the 

prosecution ofthe offenses, Therefore, albeit the Appellant committed and was charged with 

the same offenses, there is no logical relationship between the two crimes . 

. "The facts of Lee are similar to the facts in the present case as well. In Lee, the 

defendant stabbed one.victim around midnight on August 31st. Com. v. Lee, 435 A.2d 620 

... ', . . . . . 

(Pa.Super. Ct.19.81). Approximately twenty minutes later, around 12:20AM on September 

r', the defendant stabbed another victim. Id. The defendant was arrested, but he was 

.· , . · .. t',·' . . - 

charged under two sets of information. Id. The defendant proceeded to a bench trial in the 

ftrs.t s~~bbing_and was ultimately found guilty. Id. About a month later, the Commonwealth 

called the defendant'ssecond case to trial; however, the defendant moved to have the second 

• ,I ·, ,. ', ' • • : '· •• ' ', :. ' .," • 

case dismissed 011. the grounds that it violated.double jeopardy because the two stabbings 

. :· ...... · .' ..... ·.' .. : ..... 

'Yere part of one criminal episode. Id. at 621. 

. • I ··~ . . ... ".• I • '. ' ; • • 

.. · , .. Jn additionto the double jeopardy analysis, the court endeavored to explain "same 

. . . . . . . . . . ~ . . . ' •'. . . 
5 

,'.• .. ·:· .. 

• • '1 ·., 

. : -.· . . -~· . 

';, ... · 

. ,· . ~ .. 

.. I 

. . ' • . . r-. . •. . 

arguments on' appeal are without merit. 

. 1-..... . . •• ,.. r ' 

Conclusion::·.· 

.. iFor the aforementioned reasons, we respectfully submit that the Appellant's 

'.,.·. 

. . 

same offense on two different dates, at two different locations. 

.Thus.we conclude that the Appellant's acts do not constitute a part of the same 

criminal episode because there was a clear break between the offenses he committed .. 

the:APP~Ua~.~ Ol} August 3 and the one committed on August 9. Furthermore, much like Lee, 

where ~he ~Nb victims had nothing in common except the defendant who stabbed them, 

here, theonly common thread between the two offenses is the Appellant who committed the 

2011.: AstheCourt in Lee noted, there was a "clear break" between the offense committed by 

. . . ~ . . . •. . . . ·. . . . . . 

rejected, he tned. to fill a similar application at a Dick's Sporting Goods store on August 9, 

. . ~ ', ... 

N 

c::::> 

('"") -- ._, ,, 

r 

... "" ...... 

P1L-:J ""T1 :.:_.J, 

:::.; (;~ P1 .. .. c:~. 

co ( j .. -, 

::,;: ··- . -·~ -"- -· ;:::i:: 

c,Q . • ~·-·· . 

-q <ti ... 1· ::.~··: r "I' 

....... c (~ .. 

("; r,,.,, ~ ( · ...... 

...... 

e;·, i '1 ..... •·r·I .,. :I: ., 

c t~- 9 ... ---- f"" 

--~ ..-<r:""." 

--, :.. !::.:: t,i) U1 

()1